Wednesday, September 9, 2015

30 in 30 - Reaching for Light

"Reaching for Light"
6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard
DPW


Got a question from Kaethe Baeler  (Check out her beautiful work!!) regarding what my green formula is?   So I thought I'd just share it in my post!


 I've had a lot of different greens on my palette over the years, trying to figure out the secret formula to great greens:-)  Everything from Sap Green to Viridian and using yellows and blues to mix:-)  I still use Gamblin Cadmium Green Light for some of those Poppy Light Greens, but that's the only straight green color I use now.

What was really helpful for me in thinking about greens was something Wyllis Heaton shared about the fact that greens are never as cool as we think.
Here is what Wyllis said on FB in his answer to the question about his greens:

"Green is the hardest thing for me to paint! I avoid scenes with a lot green if I can... But the main thing about green in a sunlight scene is it can almost never be warm enough... Basically the greens you can buy as paints are Way too green to describe foliage... The best way to see this on the freeway... Those freeway signs are green for real, like green paint green, compare that green to the natural greens around it... You'll see how much warmer the nature is.. I carry Turquoise and lemon yellow on my palette, so I can make super green for those occasions, but it's usually an unholy combo"

After I read that I've tried to be really conscious of pushing my greens warmer than I think they are.  And looking around in nature, I agree with what Wyllis says.

Recently I've also changed what I do when it comes to mixing my greens after seeing the greens of fellow amazing CA artist Karen Werner.
I loved the greens she was mixing and she told me that she took a workshop with Kim English (who is definitely on my list of artists to study with).  And what she had learned from him was to use Paynes Gray and Lemon Yellow to mix those really nice warm greens.  

So that is what I've been doing lately, I have added black on top of the Paynes Gray and I use that with different yellows and oranges, with a little addition of Cad Green light when I want a bright, but slightly cooler green.  I've also added Alizarin Yellow - Williamsburg Oils (courtesy Colin Page) to my arsenal of yellows.   It's a really nice and transparent and works great for a warm toning of the canvas and for mixing greens with.

So Kaethe, that's my loooong answer to your question on my greens.  And it goes to show how much we learn from fellow artists and friends!  I'm so grateful for those friendships!

Happy Painting!!

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

30 in 30 - Light Around the Edge

Light Around the Edge
6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard

More Hydrangeas!  Sort of nice to work on a series for the 30 in 30 Challenge.  Learn more about the challenge here - maybe you'd like to join?  We'll see if this series will keep me going til the end...I've been known to mix things up:-)

Monday, September 7, 2015

30 in 30 - Light Continued

"Light Continued"
6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard

Here's another ART SELFIE with my friend Bob Raser.   Read more about him in this earlier post.


I don't feel like I have a lot to say about my own art right now, so I just want to share the joy of having known our Pleinair Bob!

Miss you!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

30 in 30 - Sun-Kissed

"Sun-Kissed"
6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard

Here's another Hydrangea as I focus on painting white and light for the 30 in 30 this time around.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

30 in 30 - Focus on Light

Looking for the Light
6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard



Sometimes it's hard to paint...and even harder to put things into words.

My good friend, a wonderful artist named Bob Raser -  left us this past Saturday,  after seemingly having cancer successfully removed and on the way to recovery and a normal life, before a sudden stroke changed everything...it was a devastating turn-of-events.  My heart goes out to all his family and friends!


I wanted to take the opportunity to share the joy of knowing him with you, in order that whomever might read my blog, will be up-lifted by the enthusiasm with which he lived life!

I will miss his voice, his smile and his wonderful energy!  As Maya Angelou so profoundly said:
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." 

He always made me feel better!

You can see more of his paintings following the link to his website. They are filled with optimism and sunlight, much like his personality".

He also made these wonderful video "ART SELFIES".   Here's a link to one of them.

Keep Creating!  And a big Happy Birthday to my mom!!!